Trenching machine



H. A. ELLIOTT TRENCHING MACHINE Feb. 13, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1965 flaw zWe// 14. f///a ff INVENTOR.

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Feb. 13, 1968 H. A. ELLIOTT 3,368,358

TRENCHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Her/we v4. f/ho/z IINVENTOR.

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H. A. ELLIOTT TRENCHING MACHINE Feb. 13, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 19, 1965 f/ox' /we// A. f///0/Z INVENTOR. v

BY rfi A T TORNE ZS Feb. 13, 1968 H. A. ELLIOTT 3,368,358

TRENCHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 /0/a 1N VENTOR.

BY Magda A? pun/2K A TTOR NE YS TRENCHING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 19, 1965 flarfwe// 14. ///a ff INVEN'IOR.

BY (i and ATTORNEYS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 19, 1965 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,368,358 TRENCHING MACHINE Hartwell A. Elliott, Box 5512, Drew Station, Lake Charles, La. 70601 Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 472,980 18 Claims. (Cl. 6172.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Two spaced skids are connected to each other by rigid cross members to form a frame. Two adjustably spaced, plates are pivotally suspended from the cross members and high pressure hydraulic jet nozzles are disposed adjacent each of the plates. Adjustable rollers are secured to the plates to space the plates from a pipeline passing through the space between the plates. Eductor tubes are secured to the plates with the inlet openings of the tubes inside the space between the plates and the outlet opening of the tube extending to the skids.

This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus in trenching machines.

Various devices have been proposed for digging a ditch in a water covered area so that a pipeline may be laid in the ditch; however, these devices have proved generally unsatisfactory for several reasons, including, by way of example, satisfactory means were not heretofore provided for quickly and easily positioning the machine relative to the pipe.

In prior devices, for the machine to operate to dig a ditch for the pipe, the pipe had to be inserted through the trenching machine or the machine had to be strapped or positioned around the pipe. Thus, it has been impossible with prior devices to quickly disengage the machine from the pipe in the event of sudden storm or high waves on the water covered area made further trenching operations temporarily difiicult or impossible.

Another serious problem in digging a trench with a trenching machine is that usually the prior devices provided a means for digging only one size trench. The present invention provides a means for digging different size trenches depending on the size of pipe to be laid in the trench wherein the means for digging the different size trenches are adjustable and may be set at many fixed positions.

Another problem in trenching machines heretofore was that sufficient means were not provided to cut the formation or surface of the water covered area and also even though some means were provided to cut a trench, the process of cutting a trench was long and costly; however, the present invention eliminates both of these problems by providing means for cutting a trench that are in a spaced relationship so that a complete trench is cut quickly and economically.

Another problem in prior trenching machines is that satisfactory means have not been heretofore provided for dis charging the formation after it has been cut to prevent the trench from refilling.

The present invention provides a new and improved solution by providing means for discharging the cut formation in a spaced relation whereby the cut formation is easily disposed of to prevent the trench from refilling.

Another serious problem in digging a trench is in preventing the trench walls from caving in as they are formed; however, the present invention eliminates caving trench walls by providing a support for the trench walls as the trench is dug, thereby preventing caving of the trench Walls.

Another problem in trenching machines is that as the machine is moved along the pipe, the means for cutting the trench and the means for discharging the cut formation may contact the pipe. The present invention solves this problem by providing a new and improved means for preventing the pipe from contacting the means for cutting the formation and the means for discharging the formation to thereby prevent damage to the pipe.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved construction which permits the machine to be lowered directly onto or over the pipe which thereby eliminates the necessity of inserting the pipe through some portion of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a trenching machine wherein a means is provided for cutting the earth forma tion around and under the pipe to form a trench in the formation for receiving the pipe therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a trenching machine wherein a means is provided for discharging the earth formation after the trench has been dug to prevent the trench from refilling with the earth formation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a trenching machine including a frame fitting over the pipe and contacting the formation on each side of the pipe for guiding the machine along the pipeline, a pair of plates each having surfaces adjacent the pipe attached to and depending from the frame, and jet means positioned on the surface of the plates adjacent the pipe for cutting the surface between the plates and under the pipe to form a trench in the formation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction .of a trenching machine including a frame fitting over the pipe and contacting the formation on each side of the pipe for guiding along the pipeline, a pair of plates, each plate having a surface adjacent the pipe attached to and depending from the frame, jet means positioned on the surface of the plates adjacent the pipe for cutting the surface between the plates and under the pipe to form a trench in the formation and means for conducting pressure fluid to the jet means whereby the formation may be moved as the trenching machine is moved along the pipe.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a trenching machine including a frame fitting over the pipe and contacting the formation on each side of the pipe for guiding along the pipeline, a pair of plates, each plate having a surface adjacent the pipe attached to and depending from the frame, jet means positioned on the surface of the plates adjacent the pipe for cutting the surface between the plates and under the pipe to form a trench in the formation and means for conducting pressure fluid to said jet means whereby the formation may be moved as the trenching machine is moved therealong, and a discharge means connected to each of the plates for discharging the formation cut by the trenching machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a trenching machine including a frame, a pair of plates connected to and eX- tended downwardly therefrom, jet means attached to each of the plates, discharge means for removing the cut formation, means for conducting pressure fluid to the jet means for cutting the formation and urging it towards the discharge means as the trenching machine is moved along the pipe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a trenching machine including a frame, a pair of plates connected to and extended downwardly therefrom, jet means attached to each of the plates, discharge means for removing the cut formation, means for conducting pressure fluid to the jet means for cutting the formation and urging it towards the discharge means as the trenching machine is moved along, a roller guide means for contacting the pipe extending from the plates to facilitate guiding the machine and along the pipeline to prevent damage to the pipe, jet means, and the discharge means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a trenching machine including a frame, a pair of plates connected to and extending downwardly therefrom, a jet means attached to each of the plates, a discharge means for removing the cut formation, means for conducting pressure fluid to the jet means for cutting the formation and urging it towards the discharge means as the trenching machine is moved along, a roller guide means for contacting the pipe extending from the plates to facilitate guiding the machine and along the pipeline to prevent damage to the pipe, jet means, and discharge means for predetermining the position of the plates whereby different width trenches for receiving different size pipe may be dug.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the trenching machine being towed in a water covered area and forming a ditch therein for receiving a pipe into the ditch as it is dug;

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1 showing an embodiment of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing portions of the trenching machine including a pair of roller guide means and a jet means;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 1 illustrating portions of the trenching machine including a positioning means and the roller guide means;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 3 showing an elevated section of a side view of one of a pair of plates of the trenching machine;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a different embodiment of the roller guide means;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the plate in an Open fixed position and the roller guide means of the trenching machine;

FIG. is a front sectional view illustrating a different embodiment of the trenching machine;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 8 is an elevated view taken along line 88 of FIG. 9 illustrating one of the pair of plates of the trenching machine.

In FIG. 2, the invention is illustrated generally by the letter A and is shown as including the parallel spacedapart horizontally disposed pontoons, guide means, or skids 3 and 4 which may be formed in any suitable fashion.

The invention is adapted to be pulled, guided, or steered along a submerged surface as seen in FIG. 1 and to provide a support means for the trenching machine and as more clearly seen in FIG. 2, the invention is illustrated as including suitable braces or cross members 5, 6, 7, and 8 which extend transversely of the guide means 3 and 4, respectively. The cross members 5, 6, 7, and 8 are connected to the guide means 3 and 4 by the depending vertical posts 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, respectively, a section of posts 9, 10, 11, and 12, and posts 13, 14, 15, and 16 being illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus the cross members and the depending vertical posts connected to the guide means 3 and 4 form a frame denoted generally by the letter F for the other portions of the trenching machine as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

A- pair of plates 17 and 18 are arranged between the skids 3 and 4 and depend from and below the frame. In the form of the invention as described herein, the plates 17 and 18 are curved at each end 17a and 18a and 17b and 18b, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and are inclined rearwardly and extend downwardly between the skids and are connected to cross member 7 in a manner as will be described hereinafter.

Blocks 19 and 20 are connected in any suitable manner such as welding to the rear of ends 17a and 18a of plates 17 and 18, respectively; and connected to such blocks are a pair of vertically extending arms 21 and 22 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Connected to the arms 21 and 22 are vertical parallel attachments 23a and 23b and 24a and 2411, respectively, which are connected to the arms 21 and 22 by bolt and screw means 25 and 26 or any other suitable means. It is to be noted that the parallel attachments 23a, 24a, 23b, and 24b, and the vertically extending arms 21 and 22 are adapted to pivot about the bolt and screw means 25 and 26, respectively.

Attached to the pivotal parallel attachments 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b in any suitable manner such as welding are a pair of sleeves 27 and 28 which are mounted on cross member 7 for longitudinal movement on the cross member. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a crossbar 29 is connected to and positioned under cross members 5, 6, 7, and 8. The bar 29 is transverse to and substantially perpendicular to the cross members and is connected by connection sleeve 30 to cross member 7 for slidable movement in the connection sleeve 30. A pair of expansible arms 31 and 32 is connected to the slidable sleeve means 27 and 28 in any conventional manner (not numbered) and are connected to the underside 29c of bar 29 in any conventional manner, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, are connected by bolt means (not numbered) so that the expansible arms 31 and 32 may be permitted to expand longitudinally relative to cross member 7 as the sleeve means 27 and 28 laterally expand on cross member 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, bar 29 is provided with end caps or collars 29a and 29b for a reason to be described hereinafter and is connected to cross members 5, 6, and 8 by suitable connection sleeve means 33, 34, and 36, respectively, which are similar to connection sleeve 30 hereinabove described. Connection sleeve means 33, 34, 30, and 36 are of sufficient diameter so that bar 29 may slide longitudinally therein in the same manner as sleeve means 27 and 28 slide on cross member 7. Therefore, when it is desired to move plates 17 and 18 inwardly or outwardly, sleeves 27 and 28 move longitudinally inwardly or outwardly on cross member 7 which thereby causes expansible arms 31 and 32 to radially expand inwardly or outwardly and moves bar 29 rearwardly or forwardly in the connection sleeves. It is to be noted that collars 29a and 2% on bar 29 prevent the bar 29 from slipping through the connection means 36 and 33, respectively, which thereby provides a stop for both the extreme opened and closed positions of the plates 17 and 18.

Connected to the bar 29 and adjacent the cross member 6 are a pair of expansible arms 37 and 38 which are also connected to a pair of slidable sleeves 39 and 40 in any suitable manner (not shown). The expansible arms 37 and 38 are connected to the underside of the bar 29 by a bolt and screw means 41 as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the slidable sleeves 39 and 40 are mounted with cross member 6 to slide longitudinally on cross member 6 as plates 17 and 18 are opened and closed. The movable sleeves 39 and 40 and expansible arms 37 and 38 are for facilitating the moving or positioning of the plates 17 and 18 and perform the same function as enumerated above as the expansible arms 31 and 32 and the slidable sleeves 27 and 28.

A connection is provided at mount 44 which is mounted substantially in the center of cross member 6 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Connected to the mount 44 is a piston cylinder 45 which is mounted longitudinally on the bar 29 having inserted therein a piston member 46 provided with a piston head 46a. The piston member 46 is connected to a steel plate 47 in any conventional manner such as illustrated in FIG. 1 by a pivotal nut and bolt means 4-8, and the steel plate 47 is connected to bar 29 in any conventional manner such as welding adjacent the nut and bolt means 29c.

Pivot bars 42 and 43 are connected to skids and plates 4, 17, 3, and 18, respectively, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The pivot bars 42 and 43 are parallel to the cross members 5, 6, 7, and 8 and extend transversely and substantially perpendicularly near the front 4b and 3b of the guides and permit the plates 17 and 18 to pivot upwardly and downwardly during the operation of the machine. The holes 3c and 40 extend partially into the guide means 3 and 4 and are of a larger diameter than the pivot bars 43 and 42. The pivot bars 42 and 43 are connected in any conventional manner such as welding to the plates adjacent the ends 17a and 18a.

Therefore, when the machine A must move upwardly or downwardly, the pivot bars 42 and 43 permit the plates to pivot about the guide means 3 and 4 while the guide means 3 and 4 may remain substantially'steady. The piston cylinder 45 and the piston 46 also provide another stop mechanism for moving or positioning the plates 17 and 18 which further provides that the collars 29a and 29b of the bar 29 will not be sheared or broken offif the plates 17 and 18 are moved to the extreme positions. Thus, if the plates are moved outwardly causing sleeves 27 and 28 and arms 31 and 32 to move longitudinally on cross members 6 and 7, the bar 29 is moved longitudinally of the connection sleeves which causes the piston head 46a to move to the end of piston cylinder 45 until piston head 46a reaches the end of the piston cylinder and is thereby stopped from moving further by the end of the cylinder which in turn prevents the plates from further outward movement.

As mentioned above, the ends 17a and 18a and 17b and 18b of plates 17 and 18, respectively, converge towards each other as illustrated in FIG. 3; and it is to be further noted that the plates 17 and 18 provide a support means for the walls of the trench as it is dug and thereby eliminate caving tendencies in the trench walls. A pair of suitable conduit or header means 49 and 50 are connected to each of the plates 18 and 17, respectively, and provide a means for conducting pressure fluid to the jet means and discharge or eductor means as will be discussed more fully hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a side view of the plate 17 is provided wherein jet means 51, 52, 53, and 54 are provided on the surface of the plate 17 adjacent the pipe. Jet means 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 extend toward edge 17b and include jet nozzles 56, 57, and 58 which are numbered for illustration purposes but as illustrated in FIG. 5 includes many other nozzles connected to jet means 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55. The jet nozzles extend generally downward or downward and forward or downward and directed toward the opposite surface of the plate 18 adjacent the pipe or in any other suitable manner for cutting the formation between the plates. The conduit or header 50 is connected to each of the jet means 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 whereby pressure fluid may be supplied therethrough and ejected from the nozzles of jet means 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 so as to act on the open formation or surface of the water covered area between the plate 17 and the pipe and under the pipe. It is to be understood, of course, that plate 18 is provided with a jet means and nozzles and functions in the same manner such that the jetting action from the jet means of the plates 17 and 18 cuts the formation and forms a trench therein in the formation between the plates and under the pipe for receiving the pipe.

As mentioned above, the jet nozzles 56, 57, and 58 of the jet means 51 and the jet nozzles of the other jet means 52, 53, 54, and 55 are directed generally in a downward direction so that as the formation is cut by such jetting action, it may be urged into a discharge means or eductor means 59, 60, and 61. The discharge means or eductor means are provided with openings 59a, 60a, and

61a adjacent the lower end 17b of plate 17; and as illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of header nozzles 62a, 62b,

and 62c extend partially into the bpening's of the eductor tubes. Such header nozzles 62a, 62b, and 62c are connected to the header 50 through oflfset header means 62. It is to be noted that the discharge means is generally in the form of a tube and extends upwardly through plate 17 and terminates adjacent and over guide or skid 4. As mentioned above, header nozzles 62a, 62b, and 620 extend partially into openings 59a, 60a, and 61a, of eductor tubes 59, 60, and 61 and are arranged in such eductor tubes so as to exert a force against the cut material or formation so as to urge it to the tube and out over the skid 4, to prevent the trench being formed by the jet means from refilling with the cut formation or the cut surface of the water covered area.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the plates 17 and 18 are provided with fixed roller guide plates 63, 64, 65, and 66 which are fixedly connected to the plates in any conventional manner such as welding and are positioned at the rear of the plates. The plates 63 and 65 are attached adjacent the ends 17a and 18a of the plates 17 and 18 and roller guide plates 64 and 66 are dependingly adjacent roller guide plates 63 and 65, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The roller guide plates 63, 64, 65, and 66 are curved outwardly from plates 17 and 18 and extend therefrom into the opening 67 between the plates 17 and 18. A roller guide means 63a, 64a, 65a, and 66a are connected to roller guide plates 63, 64, 65, and 66 as illustrated in FIG. 4 and connected to the roller guide means 63a through 66a are rollers 63b through 66b.

The roller guide means 63a through 6611 are provided with yokes or bridle pieces 630 through 660 which are connected to the rollers 63b through 66b and connected at the center of and extending from the yokes are parallel arms 63d through 66d which are adjustably connected to the roller guide plates so that the parallel arms may be moved inwardly or outwardly of the opening 67 to permit the rollers 6311 through 66b to contact the pipe depending on the size pipe used with the machine.

it is to be noted that rollers 63b, 64b, 65b, and 66b may be connected to roller guide means 63a, 64a, 65a, and 66a by rotatable pins (not numbered) and may be connected in any other suitable manner. As noted, the rollers are adapted to contact the pipe as the trenching machine is pulled along the pipe to prevent the pipe from damaging the eductor means and, of course, to prevent the pipe from also being scraped and damaged by the plates.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the trenching machine A may also suitably operate with two roller guides, roller plates, and rollers rather than four guides, plates, and rollers as is shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, FIG. 6 illustrates this embodiment of roller guide plates 63 and 65, roller guide means 63a and 65a, and rollers 63b and 65b and operates in the same manner as described above with relation to FIG. 4.

It is also to be noted that additional roller guide means 69, 70, 71, and 72 and rollers may be provided as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 3 and are connected to plates 18 and 17, respectively, in a conventional manner such as by bolts and screws or by welding. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the roller guide means 69, 70, 71, and 72 horizontally extend from the plates 17 and 18 further into opening 67 than the eductor means and jet means and are provided with rollers 69a, 70a, 71a, and 72a which are substantially perpendicular to the guide means and are adapted to prevent the pipe from contacting the eductor and jet means and for facilitating guiding of the trenching machine as it is pulled along the pipe.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, another roller guide plate, roller guide means, and roller are provided. With the plates 17 and 18 moved to the position shown in FIG. 7, there will be a gap 73 between such plates and the opening 67 will be enlarged. In this position, the machine may dig a larger trench since the gap 73 and the opening 67 are enlarged thereby exposing more surface of the water covered area to the jet nozzles for cutting. As mentioned above, the roller guide means 63a and 65a are adjustable by moving the parallel arms 63d and 65d inwardly and outwardly of the opening 67; and as illustrated in FIG. 7, roller guide means 63a and 65a have been moved inwardly to contact the pipe as the machine moves along the pipe. As illustrated in FIG. 7, there is provided another roller guide means 76 which is attached in any suitable manner such as welding to the bar 29 and is adapted to be adjustably moved (not shown) upwardly or downwardly relative to the bar 29. The roller guide means 75 depends from the bar 29 and is provided with a roller 76a which is attached similarly to the rollers 63b and 65b for contacting the pipe to prevent the pipe from moving in an upward direction and thereby damaging the bar 29 and the expansible arms 31 and 32.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the trenching machine A is provided with a positioning means 80 such as a ratchet means or any other suitable means attached to each of the plates 17 and 18 for positioning the plates in positions ranging from a position as illustrated in FIG. 7 to a position such as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. A pair of blocks 77 and 78 are connected by any suitable means such as welding at the rear end of the plates adjacent the roller guide plates 63 and 65, respectively, and are positioned on the curved ends 17a and 18a of the plates 17 and 18, respectively. Attached in any conventional manner to the blocks 77 and 78 is a threaded bar 79 which is provided with clockwise threads on one end and counterclockwise threads on the other end (not shown) so that by rotating the positioning means 80 in one direction, the plates 17 and 18 will expand outwardly, and by rotating the positioning means in another direction, the plates will contact inwardly. The positioning means 80 enables the plates to be maintained in many desired fixed positions so that difierent size trenches may be dug for different size pipe.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the second embodiment is provided with skids or guide means 103 and 104 which operate in the same manner as skids 3 or 4 of the first embodiment and enumerated above. Cross members 205 through 208 are connected to the skids 103 and 104 in any suitable manner such as welding and are transverse to and substantially perpendicular to the spaced apart skids 103 and 104. Plates 117 and 118 are substantially rectangular in shape and are inwardly curved at ends 117a, 117b, 118a, and 11812 similarly to the ends 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b of plates 17 and 18, respectively. Like plates 17 and 18, plates 117 and 118 depend from cross members 205 through 208 but are connected in a slfightly different manner which will be brought out herea ter.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the plate 117 is connected to a header means 150, which operates in substantially the same manner as header means 50, by plurality of jet means 151, 152, 153, 154, and 155 which carry fluid under pressure from the header means 150 to the jet nozzles 151-1, 151-2, 151-3, 151-4, 151-5, 151-6, 151-7, and 151-8. It is to be understood that jet means 152, 153, 154, and 155 also have jet nozzles but for convenience are not numbered. Also as illustrated in FIG. 10, the jet nozzles are directed generally in a downward direction, as are the jet nozzles of the first embodiment, so that as the formation is cut by such jetting action, it may be directed from the jet nozzles on the jet means 152 through 155 to enter a plurality of openings 159a, 160a, 161a, and 162a of discharge or eductor means 159, 160, 16 1, and 162. The eductor means 159, 160, 161, and 162 extend upwardly from end 1171: and extend from plate 117 over guide means 104. It is to be understood that the jet means and eductor means 159, 160, 161, and 162 of the second embodiment operate in substantially the same manner as the jet means and the eductor means of the first embodiment and that the plate 118 operates in the same manner and has attached thereto similar jet and eductor means as that illustrated on the surface of plate 117 adjacent the pipe.

A plurality of roller guide means 101 through 104 are connected to plate 117 adjacent the nozzle and eductor means as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10 and are connected in the same manner and perform the same function as the roller guide means 69, 70, 71, and 72 of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. Attached to the roller guide means in the same manner as in the first embodiment are a plurality of rollers 101a, 102a, 103a, and 104a.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the roller guide means 101 and the roller 101a on the plate 117 and a roller guide means 105 and a roller 105a on the plate 118 are positioned parallel to the surfaces adjacent the pipe of plates 117 and 118, respectively, for protecting the front jet means and jet nozzles the roller 102a and the remaining rollers on plate 117 and a roller 106a and the remaining rollers (not shown) on the plate 118 are vertically depending from the ends 117a and 118a of the plates 117 and 118, respectively, and terminate at a point substantially halfway between the ends 117a and 11% on the plate 117 and the ends 118a and 118b on the plate 118, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the trenching machine A may be provided with a pair of roller guide means 176 and 177 having rollers 176a and 177a attached, respectively, thereto. The roller guide means 176 and 177 are positioned to the front and rear of plates 117 and 118 and are connected at the ends 117a and 118a of the plates 117 and 118, respectively. The roller guide means 17 5 and 177 are attached to the plates in any conventional manner such as welding and perform the same function as roller guide means 76 and rollers 76a in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7.

Connected to the discharge or eductor means 159 through 162.in any suitable manner such as welding and substantially perpendicular thereto in an upwardly direction at a portion of the eductor means immediately adjacent the area where the eductor means extend from the plates 117 and 118 are the positioning arms or means for predetermining the position of the plates 108 through 111 as illustrated in FIG. 8. From FIG. 10, the positioning arms 108 and 112 are attached to the cross member or crossbeam 208 by a pair of cylindrical pins and 181 which extend transversely to the crossbeam. Cross members 205 through 208 have provided adjacent the center of each crossbeam multiple holes with the holes 208a through 20812 illustrated in FIG. 10. When the plates 117 and 118 are in a position for digging a small size trench, a hole in each of the positioning arms 108a through 111a, 112a and the holes in the other positioning arm on the eductor means of plate 118 (not numbered) are adapted to be aligned with the holes 208d and 2082 and the corresponding holes in cross members 205 through 207, respectively, for receiving the cylindrical pins 180 and 181 to maintain the plates 117 and 118 in this fixed position. As mentioned, the cylindrical pins 180 and 181 extend substantially perpendicularly to the cross members 205 through 208 and extend through corresponding holes in each of the cross members and through the corresponding holes of the positioning arms or positioning means substantially as illustrated in FIG. 10 for cross member 208. When it is desired to move the plates to a different fixed position, the pins are easily removed from the holes and the holes in the positioning arms are aligned with the holes extending longitudinally outwardly on the crossbeams and the pins 180 and 181 are then inserted in the aligned holes to fix the plates 117 and 118 in another position. It is to be noted that the cylindrical pins 180 and 181 may be replaced by separate bolts and screws for each connection point of the holes of the positioning arms or positioning means and the holes of the cross members.

From the foregoing description of the operation and positioning of the plates, it has been shown that the formation is cut by the discharge from the jet nozzles of the jet means on both embodiments and that the cut 10 to prevent the pipe from being damaged by the trenching machine.

What is claimed is: 1. A trenching machine for digging a trench for pipe formation is then urged out through the discharge or or the like in awater covered formation comprising:

eductor means by the header nozzles which extend partially into the openings in the eductor means to prevent the trench from refilling before the pipe is received in the trench.

In the operation of the invention, the trenching machine A is lowered into the water by a crane or the like which may be attached to the limit chains 1% through 193 which may be attached to the skids or guides in any conventional manner but which are shown connected for convenience to the second embodiment by welding to the skids 103 and 104. As the trenching machine A is lifted by means (not shown) such as a winch line attached to hooks 190a, 191a, 192a, and 193:: which are secure-d to the bars 19Gb and 19117 attached to the eductors as illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings. Movement of the bars 190!) and 191b is limited by the limit chains. The plates 117 and 118 are thereby opened until the chains 190, 191, 192, and 193 are prevented from further expanding and in this position the plates 117 and 118 are opened and the trenching machine may be set down on the pipe until the skids contact the surface on each side of the pipe. As illustrated in the first embodiment, a hook 97 is connected to the bar 29 and a chain 98 is connected to the end of 17a and 18a of plates 17 and 18, respectively, and are connected together when the machine is being lowered onto the pipe. At this point, the chain and hook 98 and 97 are disconnected to allow the rear end of the plates 17 and 18' to swing free of the frame and the positioning means 80 can then be manipulated to fix the plates in whatever position is desired.

In the second embodiment, when the machine is lowered over the pipe, the holes in the positioning arms extending from the eductor means of each of the plates 117 and 118 are aligned with the holes in cross members 205, 206, 207, and 208 and the cylindrical pins 180 and 181 are inserted through the holes of the arms and cross members to position the plates 117 and 118 in any of the desired positions depending on the size trench to be dug.

It will be assumed that the trenching machine is connected to a boat (not shown) by any suitable means such as a tow cable 87 which in turn is connected to a bridle means 88 connected to each of the skids 3 and 4 by welding or by screw bolt means as seen at 3d and 4d. As the boat pulls the trenching machine, fluid under pressure is supplied through the header means 49, 50, 149 and 150 of the first and second embodiments, respectively, whereby such fluid may be discharged through the various jets as previously discussed. Movement of the pressure fluid through the jet means of both embodiments causes a trench to be dug in the water covered formation, and as mentioned, the plates 17 and 18 and 117 and 118 of the first and second embodiments, respectively, provide a support for the trench means so that such trench walls will not cave in. Such cut formation is discharged as discussed through the educator means of both embodiments to prevent the trench from refilling before the pipe is received therein.

As the machine moves along the pipe, the roller guide means and rollers of the first and second embodiments guide and protect the pipe and also prevent the pipe from contacting the machine.

Broadly, the invention relates to a trenching machine, and more particularly to a trenching machine which may be lowered over a pipe and includes in combination therewith means for supporting the walls of the trench as it is dug, jet means spaced for digging the trench, a discharge or eductor means spaced for discharging the cut formation so that it will not fall back into the trench before the pipe is laid therein, and a roller guide means to facilitate movement of the trenching machine along the pipe and (a) a frame for lowering over a pipe to be buried in a water covered formation,

(b) guide means mounted on said frame for guiding said frame as it is moved along on the water covered formation,

(0) a pair of spaced plates having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said plates being supported on said frame and depending below said guide means, said plates having surfaces in face to face relation with one another to define a space,

((1) each of said plates being positionable adjacent the pipe to thereby receive the pipe to be buried between said surfaces when said frame is lowered over the pipe and as said frame is moved along on the water covered formation,

(e) jet means spaced longitudinally and laterally along each of said surfaces of each of said plates, said jet means being directed between said surfaces so as to cut the formation between said plates and under the pipe to thereby form a trench in the formation for receiving the pipe,

(f) eductor means having inlet openings and outlet openings with said eductor means disposed along each of said surfaces of each of said plates and having said inlet openings disposed in said space defined between said surfaces and having said outlet opening disposed externally of the space defined between the plates whereby said eductor means is directed to receive the formation after it has been cut by said jet means to thereby remove the cut formation from between said plates, and

(g) roller means attached to each of said surfaces of each of said plates for spacing said plates from the pipe to prevent damaging said eductor means, jet means, plates, and pipes.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said trenching machine includes positioning means attached to said plates for predetermining the distance between said plates along an axis which is parallel to the horizontal transverse axis of said frame whereby different width trenches may be dug for different sizes of pipe.

3. A trenching machine for digging a trench for a pipeline or the like in the surface beneath a water covered area, comprising:

(a) a frame for lowering over a pipeline in a water covered area, said frame including pontoons for contacting the submerged surface on each side of the pipeline,

(b) a pair of plates attached to and depending from said frame, said plates having surfaces in face to face relation with one another to define a space whereby one of said plates is positionable adjacent one side of the pipeline and the other plate is positionable on the opposite side thereof,

(c) positioning means attached to said plates for altering the distance between said plates along an axis which is parallel to the horizontal transverse axis of said frame whereby different width trenches may be dug for different sizes of pipe,

(d) jet means positioned adjacent each of said plates and directed for cutting the submerged surface between said surfaces of said plates and under the pipe to thereby form a trench in the submerged surface for receiving the pipe,

(e) eductor means attached along each of said plates to remove the cut submerged surface from between said surfaces of said plates to prevent refilling of the trench,

(f) roller guide means attached to and extending from each of said plates for preventing said plates, eductor 1 1 means, and jet means from contacting the pipeline, and

(g) pivot means connecting said plates with said pontoons for enabling pivotal motion of said plates about an axis parallel to the horizontal transverse axis of said pontoons.

4, An apparatus for digging a trench for 'a pipeline or the like in a surface covered by a body of Water, comprising:

(a) a frame including spaced apart parallel guide means for contacting the submerged surface on each side of the pipeline (b) said frame further including cross members for connecting the guide means extending transversely and substantially perpendicularly to the guide means,

(c) a first plate means attached to and depending from one of said cross members for positioning on one side of the pipeline,

(d) 'a second plate means attached to and depending from said one of said cross members for positioning on the other side of the pipeline,

(e) positioning means attached to said plate means for changing the distance between said plate means along an axis parallel to the horizontal transverse axis of said guide means whereby different width trenches may be dug for different sizes of pipe,

(f) each of said plate means having a surface for positioning adjacent the pipeline to thereby receive the pipeline to be buried between said plate means when said frame is lowered over the pipeline and as said frame is moved along in the water covered formation,

(g) jet means spaced longitudinally and laterally along each of said surfaces of each of said plate means, said jet means being directed between said plate means so as to cut the formation between said plate means and under the pipeline to thereby form a trench in the formation for receiving the pipeline,

(h) eductor means along each of said surfaces of each of said plate means and directed to receive the formation after it has been cut by said jet means to thereby remove the cut formation from between said plate means,

(i) spacing means attached to each of said surfaces of each of said plate means for preventing the pipeline from contacting said eductor means, jet means, and plate means, and

(j) pivot means connecting said plates with said guide means for enabling pivotal motion of said plates about an axis parallel to the horizontal transverse axis of said guide means.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spacing means includes roller means and wherein said rollers means are adjustably spaced with respect to said plate means for receiving different size pipelines.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said adjustable roller means includes rollers means carried by said one of said cross members.

7. An apparatus for digging a trench for a pipeline or the like in a surface beneath a water covered area, comprising:

(a) guide means for disposition parallel to the pipeline and for contacting the submerged surface on each side of the pipeline,

(b) cross members connected between said guide means and extending transversely of the guide means, said cross members having openings therein,

(c) a pair of plates between said guide means and below said cross members,

(d) each of said plates having a surface which faces each other for positioning adjacent the pipeline to thereby receive the pipe to be buried between said surfaces when said cross members are lowered over the pipeline and as said cross members are moved along the submerged surface,

(e) jet means along each of said surfaces of each of said plates, said jet means being directed between said surfaces so as to cut the submerged surface between said plates and under the pipe to thereby form a trench in the submerged surface for receiving the p p (f) eductor means along each of said surfaces of each of said plates and directed for receiving the submerged surface after it has been cut by said jet means to thereby remove the cut submerged surface from between said plates,

(g) support means extending from each of said eductor means for removably suspending said eductor means from said openings in said cross members for altering the distance between said plates along an axis parallel to the horizontal transverse axis of said guide means whereby different width trenches may be dug for different sizes of pipe, and

(h) spacing means attached to each of said plates for preventing the pipe from contacting said eductor means, jet means, and plates.

8. The structure 'as claimed in claim 7 wherein said sp'acing means includes roller means adjustably supported by said plates for aiding in preventing the pipeline from contacting said jet means, eductor means, and plates and wherein said support means further includes means for enabling pivotal motion of said plates about an 'axis parallel to the longitudinal horizontal axis of said guide means.

9. In a machine for digging a walled trench in the surface of a water covered area for receiving pipe comprising:

(a) guide means contacting the surface of the water covered area and adapted to be positioned adjacent each side of the pipe,

(b) frame positioning members connecting said guide means and adapted to be positioned transverse to the pipe,

(c) a first plate and a second plate, said plates having surfaces in facing relation to define a space therebetween for receiving the pipe,

(d) said first and second plates being carried by and disposed below said frame positioning members for preventing the walls of the trench from caving in before the pipe is received therein,

(e) jet means spaced longitudinally and laterally on said faces of each of said plates for cutting the surface of the water covered area to thereby form a walled trench for receiving the pipe,

(f) eductor means having inlet openings disposed in the space confined between said faces of each of said plates extending from said plates toward said guide means for removing the cut formation to discharge said cut formation exteriorly of the space defined between said faces and to prevent the walled trench from refilling after the surface of the water covered area has been cut to form a trench by said jet means,

(g) positioning arms extending upwardly from said eductor means for operable connecting engagement with said frame positioning members for enabling movement of said plates to a fixed predetermined position for digging a different size trench to receive a different size pipe, and

(h) rollers means attached to each of said surfaces of each of said plates adjacent the pipe for preventing the pipe from contacting said eductor means, jet means, and plates.

10. A trenching machine for excavating a trench in a water covered formation for receiving a pipeline or the like comprising:

(a) 'a framework means having a horizontal transverse axis and a horizontal longitudinal axis for positioning the machine above the pipeline and surface of the water covered formation;

(b) first and second transversely spaced plate means dependingly carried by said framework means and having surfaces in facing relation to each other to define a space, said plate means preventing the formation from caving in before the trench has been completely excavated;

(c) cutting jet means carried by said framework means and disposed within the space defined between said plate means for cutting the trench through the formation;

(d) eductor means carried by said framework means for removing the cut formation material;

(e) said eductor means having inlet 'and outlet openings with the inlet openings of said eductor means being disposed within the space defined between said plate means and the outlet openings of said eductor means being disposed exteriorly of the space defined between said plate means; and

(f) spacing means on said framework means for spacing the trenching machine from the pipeline to prevent damage to the pipeline and trenching machine.

.11. The trenching machine of claim wherein:

(a) said first and second plate means include a leading edge, a trailing edge, 'and a bottom edge; and

(b) said bottom edges of said first and second plate means curve inwardly toward each other to partially enclose the space defined between said plate means for assisting in cutting a relatively flat bottomed trench.

12. The trenching machine of claim 11 wherein said trailing edges of said first and second plate means curve inwardly toward each other to partially enclose the space defined between said plate means.

13. The trenching machine of claim 10 further including means connected to said plate means for enabling rotating movement of said first and second plate means about the horizontal transverse axis of said framework means.

14. The trenching machine of claim 10 further including means connected to said plate means for enabling rotating motion of said first and second plate means about the horizontal longitudinal axis of said framework means.

15. The trenching machine of claim 10 wherein:

(a) said spacing means include means movable relative to said plate means for adjusting the spacing between said plate means of the trenching machine and the pipeline, and

(b) said spacing means includes rollers.

16. The trenching machine of claim 10 further including means connected to said plate means for altering the spacing between said first and second plate means along an axis parallel to the horizontal transverse axis of said frame.

17. The trenching machine of claim 16 further including means connected to said plate means for enabling rotating movement of said first and second plate means about the horizontal transverse axis of said framework means.

18. The trenching machine of claim 16 further including means connected to said plate means for enabling rotating motion of said first and second plate means about the horizontal longitudinal axis of said framework means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,963 3/1955 Collins 61--72.4 2,693,085 11/ 1954 Salnikov 6172.4 2,795,111 6/ 1957 Richardson 6172.4 2,879,649 3/ 1959 Elliott 6l-72.4 3,004,392 10/1961 Symmank 6l72.6 X 3,103,790 9/1963 'Popich 6l72.6 X 3,217,499 11/ 1965 Ishiki 61--72.4

EARL I. WITMER, Primary Examiner. 

